And then they met...

 (Another early, early, early draft of a chapter from my next novel.)

“Remind me why we’re here?” Ramona asked, turning to her friend Andrea as they stood in a small cement-floored theatre with a small 3-foot stage a few feet in front of them.

Andrea smiled wide.  “Because you’re the bestest friend in the whole world,” she replied, “and because you don’t want me to get raped and murdered on my first date with someone I met online, which I let YOU talk me into going on by the way.”

“Oh, that’s right.  I really need to remember to keep my mouth shut sometimes.”  Both of the girls laughed.  “What’s the name of their band?”

“Turn Up.”

“Like the vegetable?” asked Ramona.

“Like ‘Turn up...the music’.  I thought it was cute...and so is he!  Look, Ramona!”  Andrea pointed to a tall gentleman with dark, curly hair standing next to the stage sipping on a cocktail, looking aloof. 

“That’s Derek?”

“Yep!  Derek!” she called out waving her arms at him.  He saw them and smiled coyly. 

“Andrea?” he said as they walked toward him. 

“Yes!  And this is my friend Ramona.”  Derek’s mind seemed to be somewhere else as he nodded and then looked over both of their heads to the crowd that was beginning to collect for the band’s show.

“Great to meet you ladies.  Come backstage,” he said suddenly taking Andrea by the hand.  Andrea looked back at Ramona and shrugged. 

She followed them into a small green room with one dingy couch and lots of cigarette smoke wafting through the air.  There were three people squeezed onto the couch drinking and laughing.  One of them seemed to recognize Ramona.

“Hey!  I know you!” said an overly enthusiastic male with long, luscious locks of blonde hair.

“Heeey,” Ramona replied, trying hard to remember his name and where she could possibly know someone like him from.

“Anderson.  Well, everyone calls me Andy.”  He stood up and shook her hand.  His hands were big, warm.  “I know Aaron and he knows your friend Liz.”

“Oh, that’s right.  I’m sorry.  I am terrible with names and faces.”

“Quite all right.  I’m just psyched to see you at our show.  How did you hear about us?”

“Well, my friend Andrea is meeting your band mate Derek from online for the first time tonight,” explained Ramona as she turned and pointed to Andrea who was already wrapped in Derek’s arms and kissing him passionately.

“Classic Derek!” Anderson said, laughing.  “Well, can I offer you something to drink?  The bar gave us some sodas and beers.

“Sure, a beer sounds amazing.”  As Anderson turned and bent down to pick out a beer from a small cooler beside the couch, pieces of his long hair fell over his face.   Ramona suddenly felt something inside of her spark.

“Here ya go, pretty girl,” said Anderson, handing her a bottle of Corona.  “Cheers.”

Ramona smiled and said, “Cheers.”

After talking to Anderson for about an hour, Andrea came to get Ramona.  “It’s almost time for them to go on,” she said.  “You can keep flirting after the show.”

“All right.  Can’t wait to hear you guys play,” said Ramona, turning to Anderson.  “I’ll see you after the show?”

“Definitely,” Anderson replied, giving her a big, warm hug and a kiss on the cheek.  Ramona caught a whiff of his hair noting he might use the same brand of shampoo as her.

During Turn Up’s loud and raucous set, Ramona was shocked to see how passionate and focused Anderson was.  She remembered the very few times she had ever seen him.  He always seemed like such a nut, but watching him sit behind his drum kit, playing with his band, completely in his element, Ramona saw something deeper inside of him and it turned her on.